More on Mughrabi Gate

...The Mughrabi is the only gate up to the Temple Mount from the Western Wall Plaza that, according to the set status quo, provides access to non-Muslims. Until 2004, the walkway rested on a dirt and stone rampart. During that winter, however, the earthen ramp collapsed. A temporary wooden bridge was erected and plans were made for a permanent bridge, the construction of which was delayed due to Palestinian outcry wrongfully claiming that with this bridge, Israel was trying to change the status quo for the Temple Mount Plaza.

...Since 1967, and especially in the last decade, the Palestinians have appropriated the Temple Mount and expanded their fight to include symbols in the area of the Western Wall as well. In essence, the Mughrabi Gate is the only passageway through which Israel can exercise its sovereign right to this area, so holy to the Jewish people.

Procrastination and indecision on the establishment of a new bridge may be interpreted by some in Israel as weakness, and lead precisely to the clashes that the government hopes to avoid.

About Me

American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.